Gerald Kyalo. (geraldbway).
A section of Karura Forest is being cleared for a tree nursery and temporary housing for National Youth Service (NYS) officials, part of the government's nationwide tree-growing initiative. Environment CS Deborah Barasa says 2-3 acres are being used to propagate up to five million seedlings for afforestation projects across Kenya.
The seedlings will be planted in public parks, forests, urban areas, schools, and highways. Barasa argues the project supports the government's goal to raise Kenya's forest cover from 12% to 30% over the next several years. "To propagate around five million seedlings, we need space where we can establish nurseries and mobilise human resource to support the process," she said.
Temporary housing structures are being put up for NYS officers to manage the nursery. However, conservationists and groups like Friends of Karura Forest are concerned about the forest's management, citing potential destruction of the protected urban forest. Barasa denies allegations of forest destruction, saying the project bolsters tree-planting initiatives.
The national effort aims to mobilize communities in various ecological zones, including coastal regions, drylands, and wetlands, to produce and plant more trees, restoring damaged ecosystems and increasing forest cover.
The seedlings will be planted in public parks, forests, urban areas, schools, and highways. Barasa argues the project supports the government's goal to raise Kenya's forest cover from 12% to 30% over the next several years. "To propagate around five million seedlings, we need space where we can establish nurseries and mobilise human resource to support the process," she said.
Temporary housing structures are being put up for NYS officers to manage the nursery. However, conservationists and groups like Friends of Karura Forest are concerned about the forest's management, citing potential destruction of the protected urban forest. Barasa denies allegations of forest destruction, saying the project bolsters tree-planting initiatives.
The national effort aims to mobilize communities in various ecological zones, including coastal regions, drylands, and wetlands, to produce and plant more trees, restoring damaged ecosystems and increasing forest cover.
